it started with a gap...
Make Room for Yes was born out of a reality we saw in North Iowa: at any given time, over 200 local children are in the foster care system. Statewide, nearly half of children in the system may not find a traditional home placement—often because the overwhelming logistics of fostering prevent families from saying “yes.”
In 2021, our founders, Laura Meyer and Amanda Kasten, decided that a lack of storage space or the midnight scramble for a car seat should never stand in the way of a child’s care. We realized that while many families have the heart to serve, they are often held back by the high cost of new gear, the inability to store bulky items, and the lack of immediate availability when a call comes in.
What started in a small storage space at Zion • Clear Lake has grown into a nine-county mission based at the Clear Lake E-Free Church. Our 24/7 library allows families to “borrow and return,” removing the stress of cost and inventory. By sustaining our current foster families, we hope to empower even more local families to become licensed, knowing they have a village ready to equip them from day one.
9 counties served
Providing a local village across North Iowa
200+ children in care
The ongoing need for loving, equipped homes in our area
24/7 access
Because “the call” doesn’t always happen during business hours
0 cost to families
Ensuring financial barriers never dictate a child’s placement
how we help
practical tools for the journey
We focus on the practical essentials you need right now so that you can focus on the child in your care. Our two primary programs are designed to meet families at different stages of a placement:
24/7 resource library
Our facility is stocked with high-quality, new gear including car seats, cribs, strollers and high chairs. Families can borrow these items for as long as they are needed and return them when the placement ends, saving both money and storage space.
cozy cases
To help a child feel safe and valued during the first 48 hours in a new home, we provide “Cozy Cases”. These are special kits packed with new pajamas, books, a cuddly friend, and essentials like socks, underwear and diapers. It’s a gift meant just for them to keep, providing a sense of belonging from day one.
rooted in faith + community
As a Christian organization, we are driven by the call to care for the vulnerable. We believe that supporting the “messy, crazy YES” is a collective effort. By equipping the church and the local community to stand behind foster families, we are working toward a future where every child in Iowa is raised in a safe, loving home.
will you join our village?
Whether you are a foster parent looking for support or a community member looking to give, there is a place for you here.